Menu Planning ~ "From 5PM Panic to Pizza Friday" E50

Ep50 "From 5PM Panic to Pizza Friday (No Spreadsheets Required)"

Stop staring into the fridge at 5PM wondering what to feed everyone! Julie & Janis are tackling menu planning—simple, doable, & realistic for actual busy people. No spreadsheets, no color coding, just a system that saves time, money, & your sanity.

Everyday Menu Planning Basics:

Start With Your Goals - Budget-friendly? Health-focused? Three-soccer-practices survival? Your why shapes your plan.

Check Your Schedule - Late nights = slow cooker meals. Free Saturday = try new recipes. Plan for your reality, not Pinterest fantasy.

Simple Framework - One pasta dish, one meatless meal, one soup/salad, one slow cooker/sheet pan, one family favorite, one new recipe, one leftover night.

Share Ingredients - Roast chicken Sunday → tacos Tuesday → soup Thursday. One chicken, three meals!

Take Stock First - Check fridge/freezer/pantry before shopping. Use sad vegetables before buying new ones.

Write It Down - Post menu on fridge. Organize shopping list by sections (produce, dairy, pantry, frozen). Stick to the plan!

Prep Ahead - 20-30 minutes on weekends: wash veggies, marinate meats, cook grains, boil eggs. Not starting from zero = game changer.

Stay Flexible - Menu is a guide, not a prison sentence. Life happens, swap days as needed.

Bonus Tips:

• Rotate 15-20 favorite meals every 2-4 weeks
• Theme nights (Taco Tuesday, Pizza Friday—Julie does this every week!)
• Batch cook & freeze (double that chili!)
• Leftover creativity: roast chicken → sandwiches → soup → quesadillas

Holiday Meal Planning:

Same principles, sparkle and higher stakes! Avoid the stress tornado.

Get Clear on Basics - Who's coming? Dietary restrictions? Cozy dinner or buffet? Vision affects everything.

Work Backwards:

• 2-3 weeks: finalize menu, order specialty items
• 1 week: shop non-perishables
• 2-3 days: fresh produce, prep desserts, chop veggies
• Day before: set table, label serving dishes with sticky notes, do final baking
• Day of: cook main dish, reheat sides

Build Balanced Menu - Main dish + 3-5 sides (starch, veggies, salad/rolls) + 1-2 desserts + drinks. If turkey: mashed potatoes AND stuffing (non-negotiable!).

Sanity Savers:

• Some dishes at room temperature (salads, cranberry sauce, rolls)
• Plan oven schedule—choose recipes at same temp
• Use slow cookers/Instant Pots to free up oven

Delegate & Simplify - Let guests bring sides! Semi-homemade is SMART. Store-bought rolls ≠ failure. Connection > perfection. Nobody remembers if gravy was from scratch or packet (but you MUST have gravy!).

Real Talk: Janis's MIL never did cranberries. Julie almost left a Thanksgiving with no gravy. We get it.

FREE Thanksgiving Planning Checklist at www.abcDEclutter.com - Complete roadmap with timeline, shopping lists, and sanity!

Resources: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj 

Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com 

Podcast: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com 

Email: hello@abcdeclutter.com

Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!